Announcement
Adnan and Monira Alnabolsi gaze at each other while posing in a Hughson almond orchard on Feb. 10. The couple moved to Turlock to escape violence in Syria two years ago. They continue to await the arrival of their son and his family to the United States.
Photo: Mason Trinca
For a few weeks each year, much of California’s San Joaquin Valley becomes a sea of flowering beauty, as pinkish white blossoms briefly blanket the tree tops in the region’s myriad orchards. Countless local families and engaged couples take advantage of the resplendent scenery to capture family portraits.
Last month, San Francisco photographer Mason Trinca used the iconic springtime backdrop to capture the images of four client families who have been resettled by the IRC in Turlock/Modesto. The two Syrian refugee families from Turlock and two Afghan families from Modesto posed in an almond orchard in rural Hughson, where they also had the opportunity to learn fun facts about California agriculture.
Syrian client Adnan Alnabolsi laughed last week while looking at the photos of him and his wife, Monira, gazing at each other while standing next to a flowering tree.
“Beautiful!” he proclaimed, as a wide smile spread across his face.
The Alnabolsis arrived in Turlock in two years ago, after fleeing their homeland of Syria. Their son, Wasim, remains in Egypt along with his wife and their newborn son, after being temporarily barred from coming to the U.S. following last year’s federal Travel Ban.
“I’m so happy to be in a safe place,” Adnan said through an interpreter, though he added that he someday looks forward to being reunited with his son here in the United States.
In addition to offering his time to photograph the IRC families, Trinca donated digital images and individual photo prints to the IRC to distribute to the families. In addition to photographing IRC clients from Turlock and Modesto, he took photos for a portrait event in Oakland within the past month.
Members of the Abu Rajab family are all smiles during a photo portrait session in Hughson on Feb. 10. The Abu Rajabs moved to Turlock from Syria two years ago. Fadi and Suzan Abu Rajab are pictured with children Ahmad, Hamzah, Taim, Mohamad Ameen, Bailasan, and baby Majd.
Photo: Mason Trinca
Khatera Hedayati stands with her daughter, Sana, and son, Esarullah, and her baby boy. Khatera and her husband, Meher Dil, moved their family to Modesto last year after Khatera previously served as a human resources manager for USAID in Afghanistan.
Photo: Mason Trinca
